Vampire Weekend's Surprising Jewish Stories
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He immediately went to Israel where he was greeted by throngs of people at the Western Wall.
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On February 11, 1986, Natan Sharansky arrived in Israel after being denied permission to move there in 1973 on the grounds that he was privy to information crucial to Soviet national security. Sharansky had become deeply involved in Jewish activism and was arrested in 1977 on unsubstantiated charges of espionage. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison.
On the night of their wedding, his wife Avital gave Natan a Book of Psalms which he kept with him until authorities took it away in the Soviet prison. The day after their wedding, Avital left for Israel, right as her exit visa was expiring. During the 9 years he spent in prison, Avital tirelessly campaigned for her husband’s release.
Sharansky was released on February 11, 1986, as part of an exchange of detainees. He was the first political prisoner released by Mikhail Gorbachev.
He immediately went to Israel where he was greeted by throngs of people at the Western Wall. Sharansky helped form the Zionist Forum which supported Soviet Jews as they joined Israeli society. He also established the Yisrael B'Aliya political party which aimed to improve the lives of immigrants to Israel. He held various positions in the Israeli government and later served as Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel.
Sharansky also created the 3D test to discern antisemitism from legitimate criticism of Israel and today, he serves as Chair of ISGAP, an organization that runs a variety of educational initiatives aimed at preventing antisemitism. He has written three books and earned a variety of accolades and continues to fight against antisemitism and advance human rights.
